U.S. patent number 7,775,386 [Application Number 11/110,960] was granted by the patent office on 2010-08-17 for closure element.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola Societa Cooperativa. Invention is credited to Alessandro Falzoni.
United States Patent |
7,775,386 |
Falzoni |
August 17, 2010 |
Closure element
Abstract
A cap comprises an opening indicating element provided with a
flap arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment
arrangement associated with a neck of a container, said flap
arrangement comprising at least one first portion and at least one
second portion arranged alongside one another along a peripheral
edge of said opening indicating element, a dimension of said at
least one second portion measured transversely in relation to said
peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of
said at least one first portion measured transversely in relation
to said peripheral edge; a container comprises a neck from which an
abutment arrangement projects and a cap provided with a flap
arrangement suitable for interacting with said abutment
arrangement, said abutment arrangement comprising a plurality of
distinct abutment elements and said flap arrangement comprising at
least one portion suitable for being received in a gap defined
between two abutment elements of said plurality of abutment
elements.
Inventors: |
Falzoni; Alessandro (Imola,
IT) |
Assignee: |
Sacmi Cooperativa Meccanici Imola
Societa Cooperativa (Imola, BO, IT)
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Family
ID: |
34956657 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/110,960 |
Filed: |
April 21, 2005 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20060021959 A1 |
Feb 2, 2006 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Jul 30, 2004 [IT] |
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MO2004A0203 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
215/252; 215/258;
215/44; 215/343 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
41/3428 (20130101); B65D 41/045 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
41/34 (20060101); B65D 43/02 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;215/252,254,256,258,44,343 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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0 146 237 |
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Jun 1985 |
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EP |
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0 697 343 |
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Feb 1996 |
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EP |
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0 854 095 |
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Jul 1998 |
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EP |
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2 232 408 |
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Dec 1990 |
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GB |
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2 277 320 |
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Oct 1994 |
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GB |
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1232717 |
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Mar 1992 |
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IT |
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10-167299 |
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Jun 1998 |
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JP |
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2001-114313 |
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Apr 2001 |
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JP |
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WO 2005/012125 |
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Feb 2005 |
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WO |
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WO 2006/013443 |
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Feb 2006 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Stashick; Anthony
Assistant Examiner: Eloshway; Niki M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A container comprising a neck and a cap, an abutment arrangement
projecting from said neck, said cap comprising a base body and an
opening indicating element connected to said base body by means of
bridge elements intended to be fractured at the first opening of
the container, said opening indicating element being provided with
a flap arrangement comprising at least one first portion and at
least one second portion arranged alongside one another along a
peripheral edge of said opening indicating element, said at least
one first portion comprising a first active surface suitable for
interacting with a first face of said abutment arrangement
generating a tensile stress that promotes the breakage of said
bridge elements when said cap is removed from said neck, said at
least one second portion comprising a second active surface
suitable for interacting with a second face of said abutment
arrangement so as to prevent rotation of said opening indicating
element integrally with said base body, said interaction between
said second active surface and said second face subjecting said
bridge elements to a shearing stress that promotes the breakage of
said bridge elements when said cap is removed from said neck.
2. The container of claim 1, wherein said abutment arrangement
comprises a plurality of distinct abutment elements, said at least
one second portion being received in a gap defined between two
consecutive abutment elements of said plurality of abutment
elements.
3. The container of claim 2, wherein each abutment element of said
plurality of abutment elements comprises a second abutment face
configured in such a way as to interact with said second active
surface of said flap arrangement generating said shearing
stress.
4. The container of claim 3, wherein said second abutment face is
tilted in relation to a plane defined by an opening of said
container.
5. The container of claim 2, wherein each abutment element of said
plurality of abutment elements comprises a first abutment face
configured in such a way as to interact with said first active
surface of said flap arrangement generating said tensile
stress.
6. The container of claim 5, wherein said first abutment face is
arranged substantially parallel to a plane defined by an opening of
said container.
7. The container of claim 1, wherein a dimension of said at least
one second portion measured transversely in relation to said
peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of
said at least one first portion measured transversely in relation
to said peripheral edge.
8. The container of claim 1, wherein said first active surface is
arranged substantially parallel to said peripheral edge.
9. The container of claim 1, wherein said second active surface is
tilted in relation to said peripheral edge.
10. The container of claim 1, wherein said second face is tilted in
relation to a plane defined by an opening of said container.
11. The container of claim 1, wherein said second active surface is
obtained on a side of said at least one second portion.
12. The container of claim 1, wherein said first face is arranged
substantially parallel to a plane defined by an opening of said
container.
13. The container of claim 1, wherein between said first face and
said second face a substantially right dihedral angle is
defined.
14. The container of claim 1, wherein between said first face and
said second face an obtuse dihedral angle is defined.
15. The container of claim 1, wherein between said first face and
said second face an acute dihedral angle is defined.
16. The container of claim 1, wherein said flap arrangement
comprises a continuous flap having an annular shape.
17. The container of claim 1, wherein said flap arrangement
comprises pluralities of distinct flaps.
18. A seal member for a cap associable with a neck of a container,
said seal member comprising a disc-shaped central zone, a
projection that projects from said central zone, and a
substantially flat annular portion that extends from said
projection externally of said central zone, said projection being
suitable for being received in a shapingly coupled manner inside a
mouth of said neck when said cap is tightened on said neck, said
annular portion comprising a first part suitable for interacting
with an end zone of said mouth that faces a bottom wall of said
cap, said annular portion comprising a second part farther from
said projection than said first part and suitable for interacting
with a further end zone of said mouth that faces a side skirt of
said cap, said first part and second part of said annular portion
being thinner than said central zone, said first part and second
part of said annular portion being coplanar with said central
zone.
19. The seal member of claim 18, wherein said annular portion is
made of easily deformable material.
20. The seal member of claim 18, wherein said projection is
arranged substantially perpendicular to said annular portion.
21. A closure element comprising a cap and a seal member, said cap
being associable with a neck of a container, said seal member being
suitable for being interposed between said cap and said neck, said
cap comprising a skirt portion and a bottom portion, said seal
member comprising an annular portion suitable for interacting with
a mouth of said neck, a first part of said annular portion being
suitable for interacting with an end zone of said mouth that faces
said bottom portion, a second part of said annular portion being
suitable for interacting with a further end zone of said mouth that
faces said skirt portion, said cap being internally provided with a
pressing element arranged to interact with said second part of said
annular portion when said cap is tightened on said neck, said
pressing element comprising a shaped edge at a border zone between
said skirt portion and said bottom portion, said second part of
said annular portion being tightened between said shaped edge and
said mouth when said cap is tightened on said neck, said second
part of said annular portion being made of deformable material such
as to substantially completely occupy a space defined between an
internal surface of said shaped edge and said further end zone of
said mouth when said cap is tightened on said neck, said space
having a first zone nearer said bottom portion of said cap and a
second zone farther from said bottom portion whereby said first
zone has a width not greater than a width of said second zone, said
seal member comprising a disc-shaped central zone and a projection
that projects from said central zone, said projection being
suitable for being received in a shapingly coupled manner inside a
mouth of said neck when said cap is tightened on said neck, said
annular portion extending from said projection externally of said
central zone.
22. The closure element of claim 21, wherein said first part and
second part of said annular portion are thinner than said central
zone.
23. The closure element of claim 21, wherein said first part and
second part of said annular portion are coplanar with said central
zone.
24. The closure element of claim 21, wherein said projection is
arranged substantially perpendicular to said annular portion.
25. The closure element of claim 21, wherein said cap comprises an
opening indicating element provided with a flap arrangement
suitable for interacting with an abutment arrangement associated
with said neck, said flap arrangement comprising at least one first
portion and at least one second portion arranged alongside one
another along a peripheral edge of said opening indicating element,
a dimension of said at least one second portion measured
transversely in relation to said peripheral edge being greater then
a corresponding dimension of said at least one first portion
measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge.
26. The closure element of claim 25, wherein said at least one
second portion comprises an active surface tilted in relation to
said peripheral edge and configured in such a way as to interact
with a face of said abutment arrangement, said active surface being
obtained on a side of said at least one second portion projecting
from said peripheral edge.
27. The closure element of claim 26, wherein said at least one
first portion comprises a further active surface configured in such
a way as to interact with a further face of said abutment
arrangement, said further active surface being arranged
substantially parallel to said peripheral edge.
28. The closure element of claim 25, wherein said flap arrangement
comprises a continuous flap having an annular shape.
29. The closure element of claim 25, wherein said flap arrangement
comprises pluralities of distinct flaps.
30. A cap for a container, the cap comprising a base body and an
opening indicating element connected to said base body by means of
bridge elements intended to be fractured at the first opening of
the container, said opening indicating element being provided with
a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment
arrangement associated with a neck of said container, said flap
arrangement comprising at least one first portion and at least one
second portion arranged alongside one another along a peripheral
edge of said opening indicating element, a dimension of said at
least one second portion measured transversely in relation to said
peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of
said at least one first portion measured transversely in relation
to said peripheral edge, said at least one first portion comprising
a first active surface configured in such a way as to interact with
a first face of said abutment arrangement generating a tensile
stress that promotes the breakage of said bridge elements when said
cap is removed from said neck, said at least one second portion
comprising a second active surface configured in such a way as to
interact with a second face of said abutment arrangement so as to
prevent rotation of said opening indicating element integrally with
said base body, said interaction between said second active surface
and said second face subjecting said bridge elements to a shearing
stress that promotes the breakage of said bridge elements when said
cap is removed from said neck, said flap arrangement comprising a
continuous flap having an annular shape.
31. A closure element comprising a cap and a seal member, said cap
being associable with a neck of a container, said seal member being
suitable for being interposed between said cap and said neck, said
cap comprising a skirt portion and a bottom portion, said seal
member comprising an annular portion suitable for interacting with
a mouth of said neck, a first part of said annular portion being
suitable for interacting with an end zone of said mouth that faces
said bottom portion, a second part of said annular portion being
suitable for interacting with a further end zone of said mouth that
faces said skirt portion, said cap being internally provided with a
pressing element arranged to interact with said second part of said
annular portion when said cap is tightened on said neck, said
pressing element comprising a shaped edge at a border zone between
said skirt portion and said bottom portion, said second part of
said annular portion being tightened between said shaped edge and
said mouth when said cap is tightened on said neck, said second
part of said annular portion being made of deformable material such
as to substantially completely occupy a space defined between an
internal surface of said shaped edge and said further end zone of
said mouth when said cap is tightened on said neck, said space
having a first zone nearer said bottom portion of said cap and a
second zone farther from said bottom portion whereby said first
zone has a width not greater than a width of said second zone, said
cap comprising an opening indicating element provided with a flap
arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment arrangement
associated with said neck, said flap arrangement comprising at
least one first portion and at least one second portion arranged
alongside one another along a peripheral edge of said opening
indicating element, a dimension of said at least one second portion
measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge being
greater then a corresponding dimension of said at least one first
portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge,
said flap arrangement comprising a continuous flap having an
annular shape.
32. A cap for a container, the cap comprising a base body and an
opening indicating element connected to said base body by means of
bridge elements intended to be fractured at the first opening of
the container, said opening indicating element being provided with
a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with an abutment
arrangement associated with a neck of said container, said flap
arrangement comprising a continuous flap, said continuous flap
comprising at least one first flap portion and at least one second
flap portion arranged alongside one another along a peripheral edge
of said opening indicating element, a dimension of said at least
one second flap portion measured transversely in relation to said
peripheral edge being greater than a corresponding dimension of
said at least one first flap portion measured transversely in
relation to said peripheral edge, wherein said at least one first
flap portion comprises a first active surface configured in such a
way as to interact with a first face of said abutment arrangement
generating a tensile stress that promotes the breakage of said
bridge elements when said cap is removed from said neck, and
wherein said at least one second flap portion comprises a second
active surface configured in such a way as to interact with a
second face of said abutment arrangement so as to prevent rotation
of said opening indicating element integrally with said base body,
said interaction between said second active surface and said second
face subjecting said bridge elements to a shearing stress that
promotes the breakage of said bridge elements when said cap is
removed from said neck.
33. The cap of claim 32, wherein said continuous flap has an
annular shape.
34. The cap of claim 32, wherein said second active surface is
tilted in relation to said peripheral edge.
35. The cap of claim 32, wherein said second active surface is
obtained on a side of said at least one second flap portion
projecting from said peripheral edge.
36. The cap of claim 32, wherein said first active surface is
arranged substantially parallel to said peripheral edge.
37. The cap of claim 32, wherein a substantially right dihedral
angle is defined between said first active surface and said second
active surface.
38. The cap of claim 32, wherein an obtuse dihedral angle is
defined between said first active surface and said second active
surface.
39. The cap of claim 32, wherein an acute dihedral angle is defined
between said first active surface and said second active surface.
Description
The invention relates to a closure element comprising abutment
arrangement associated with a neck of a container and a cap
provided with an opening indicating device provided with a safety
ring and with a flap arrangement arranged to interact with the
abutment arrangement. The invention furthermore relates to a seal
member associable with a cap and being suitable for being
interposed between the cap and a mouth of a neck of a
container.
Caps are known consisting of a cylindrical skirt comprising a first
portion, cooperating with a bottom wall to define a base body of
the cap and a second portion that constitutes an opening indicating
device suitable for informing the user of the wholeness of a
product packaged in the container.
The second portion comprises a ring that interacts with a
projection obtained in the neck of the container.
The projection is annular-shaped and projects from a side wall of
the neck.
The first portion and second portion are separated by a nominal
opening line consisting of a plurality of cuts, or openings passing
through the cylindrical skirt and spaced by bridge elements that
extend between the first portion and the second portion, which are
intended to be fractured during the first opening of the
container.
A plurality of flaps project from an edge zone of the ring that--in
use--face the inside and face a top part of the cap.
At the moment of the first opening of the container, the flaps
interact with the projection to prevent the detachment of the ring
from the neck of the container and to promote the breakage of the
bridge elements.
A drawback of the caps disclosed above consists of the fact that
the bridge elements may get deformed, before being fractured, in
such a way as to enable the ring to rotate integrally with the base
body of the cap.
This partially cancels the effect of the opening indicating
element, inasmuch as the container can be opened, so that part of
the contents can be taken and possibly replaced without the bridge
elements break.
As a result, a user is unable to distinguish a whole container from
one that has been tampered with.
Caps are furthermore known that are provided with seal elements
arranged to enable a hermetic closure of the containers with which
they are associated.
A first type of seal elements comprises a disc-shaped seal made of
plastic matter, for example an elastomer, fixed to an internal
surface of the bottom wall of the cap.
When the cap is tightened on the neck of a container, the
disc-shaped seal is pressed against a mouth of the neck to prevent
leaks of liquid.
A drawback of the seal elements of the type disclosed above
consists of the fact that the contact between the disc-shaped seal
and the mouth occurs at a zone--substantially shaped as an
annulus--having rather a limited extent.
As a result, the disc-shaped seals disclosed above may not be able
to ensure a satisfactory seal.
A second type of seal elements comprises a disc from which a first
annular bead and a second annular bead depart, being the first
annular bead concentric with the second annular bead, the second
annular bead having a diameter that is greater than the first
annular bead and therefore being arranged outside the latter.
The first annular bead is configured in such a way as to be
received at the inside of a neck of a container in such a way that
an external wall of the first annular bead interacts in use with an
internal surface of the neck.
The second annular bead is shaped in such a way as to partially
surround the neck, such that an internal wall of the second annular
bead interacts in use with an external surface of the neck.
The distance between the first annular bead and the second annular
bead is substantially the same as or shorter then the thickness of
the cylindrical wall that defines the neck.
A drawback of the seal elements of the type disclosed above
consists of the fact that the production thereof is difficult
because they require precise dimensional tolerances.
Furthermore, the manufacture of such seal elements requires the use
of rather complicated moulds.
An object of the invention is to improve the known closure
elements.
Another object of the invention is to obtain a closure element that
promotes a rapid and effective detachment of an opening indicating
element from a body of the cap.
A further object is to obtain a cap provided with an opening
indicating element that does not rotate integrally with the body of
the cap when the latter is unscrewed from the neck of a
container.
A still further object is to obtain seal elements for caps that are
simple to make and easy to apply to a neck of a container.
In a first aspect of the invention, a cap is provided, comprising
an opening indicating element provided with a flap arrangement
suitable for interacting with an abutment arrangement associated
with a neck of a container, wherein said flap arrangement comprises
at least one first portion and at least one second portion arranged
alongside one another along a peripheral edge of said opening
indicating element, a dimension of said at least one second portion
measured transversely in relation to said peripheral edge being
greater then a corresponding dimension of said at least one first
portion measured transversely in relation to said peripheral
edge.
In un second aspect of the invention, a container is provided,
comprising a neck from which an abutment arrangement projects and a
cap provided with a flap arrangement suitable for interacting with
said abutment arrangement, said abutment arrangement comprising a
plurality of distinct abutment elements, wherein said flap
arrangement comprises at least one portion suitable for being
received in a gap defined by two consecutive abutment elements of
said plurality of abutment elements.
The cap comprises a flap arrangement provided with at least one
first portion arranged to interact with a zone of the abutment
elements and at least one second portion arranged to interact with
a further zone of the abutment elements.
The first zone and the second zone define active surfaces of the
abutment elements mutually tilted.
In particular, one of the active surfaces is arranged transversely
to a direction along which the cap is rotated to be separated from
the container.
In this way, the surface acts as a stopping surface for the opening
indicating element, which cannot be rotated without fracturing
bridge elements that connect the opening indicating element to a
base body of the cap.
The bridge elements break after the cap has been rotated in
relation to the neck by an extremely limited angle.
Owing to these aspects of the invention, it is therefore possible
to obtain a cap that cannot be tampered without any tampering being
clearly shown by the opening indicating element.
It is furthermore possible to obtain rapid opening of the
containers to which the cap is applied inasmuch as the interaction
of the at least one first portion and of the at least one second
portion of the flap arrangement with the active surfaces of the
abutment elements causes an immediate fracture of the bridge
elements.
In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a seal member
for a cap associable with a neck of a container, comprising a
central zone from which a projection projects that is suitable for
interacting with a mouth of said neck, wherein it further comprises
a substantially flat annular portion that extends from said
projection externally of said central zone.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a closure
element, comprising a cap associable with a neck of a container and
a seal member suitable for being interposed between said cap and
said neck, said seal member comprising an annular portion suitable
for interacting with a mouth of said neck, wherein said cap is
internally provided with a pressing element arranged to interact
with said annular portion, when said cap is tightened on said
neck.
Owing to these aspects of the invention it is possible to obtain a
seal member that associate high sealing efficiency with significant
manufacturing simplicity and application to a neck of a
container.
In particular, the seal member according to the invention is
significantly more effective than the flat disc-shaped seals and is
much easier to make and apply than the disc seals provided with a
pair of concentric beads.
In fact, during operation, the projection of the seal member is
received in a shapingly coupled manner inside the neck in such a
way as to interact with an internal surface of the latter.
Furthermore, when the cap inside which the seal member is
positioned is tightened on the neck the substantially flat annular
portion is deformed so as to interact with an external surface of
the neck, partially enveloping it.
It is thus possible to obtain improved sealing inasmuch as the
substantially flat annular portion fits itself according to the
particular geometry of the space defined between the cap and the
neck, thus enabling a satisfactory seal to be obtained even in the
case of necks and caps that have actual dimensions that differ from
the theoretical ones.
This cannot be obtained with circular seals provided with a pair of
concentric beads according to the state of the art.
The invention can be better understood and carried out with
reference to the attached drawings, that illustrate some
exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments thereof, in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a neck of a container provided with an
abutment arrangement comprising a plurality of distinct abutment
elements;
FIG. 2 is an axial section of a cap provided with a flap
arrangement;
FIG. 3 is a view like the one in FIG. 2, showing a flap arrangement
made according to a version;
FIG. 4 is a section IV-IV of FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a side view of the neck in FIG. 1;
FIG. 6 is a transparent side view of the cap of FIG. 3 associated
with the neck in FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a section like the one in FIG. 4 showing the cap of FIG.
2 associated with the neck in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a view like the one in FIG. 2 showing a further version
of the cap comprising a flap arrangement provided with holes;
FIG. 9 is a view like the one in FIG. 5, showing a neck provided
with an abutment arrangement made according to an embodiment;
FIG. 10 is an axial section of a cap comprising a flap arrangement
made according to another embodiment;
FIG. 11 is a view like the one in FIG. 6, showing the cap of FIG.
10 associated with the neck in FIG. 9;
FIG. 12 is a view like the one in FIG. 5, showing a neck provided
with an abutment arrangement made according to a further
embodiment;
FIG. 13 is an axial section of a cap comprising a flap arrangement
made according to a still further embodiment;
FIG. 14 is a view like the one in FIG. 6, showing the cap of FIG.
13 associated with the neck in FIG. 12;
FIG. 15 is a partially fragmentary axial section of a cap and of a
seal member distinct from the cap and suitable for cooperating with
the cap;
FIG. 16 is a section like the one in FIG. 15 showing the cap
completely screwed onto a neck of a container and the seal member
tightened between the cap and the neck.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, there is shown a neck 1 of a
container comprising a side wall 24 that limits an opening 25 of
the container.
On the side wall 24 there is made a thread 2 shaped in such a way
as to engage with a corresponding further thread 3 obtained inside
a cap 4 that has to be associated with the neck 1.
The cap 4 can be obtained by compression moulding of plastic matter
or by other known productive processes.
The neck 1 is equipped with an abutment arrangement 5, projecting
circumferentially from the side wall 24, arranged to interact with
an opening indicating element 7 with which the cap 4 is
provided.
The opening indicating element 7 comprises a ring 8 connected to a
base body 9 of the cap 4 by means of bridge elements intended to be
fractured at the moment of the first opening of the container.
The base body 9 is defined by a side skirt 26 and by a bottom wall
27.
From an end zone of the ring 8 a flap arrangement 10 projects that
in use is arranged inside the cap 4.
At the moment of the first opening of the container, the flap
arrangement 10 interacts with the abutment arrangement 7 to promote
the breakage of the bridge elements and the consequent detachment
of the ring 8 from the base body 9.
The abutment arrangement 5 comprises a plurality of distinct
abutment elements 11, the abutment elements 11 being arranged along
the external perimeter of the neck 1 in such a way that between two
adjacent abutment elements 11 a gap 12 is defined.
As shown in FIG. 2, the flap arrangement 10 comprises a continuous
flap 15 having an annular shape that is provided with first
portions 13, having a preset circumferential extent L1 and a preset
height H1 and second portions 14, having a further preset
circumferential extent L2 and a further preset height H2 that is
greater than the preset height H1.
The first portions 13 and the second portions 14 project from a
peripheral edge 28 of the ring 8 farther from the bottom wall
27.
Each first portion 13 is interposed between two second portions 14,
in such a way that the first portions 13 and the second portions 14
alternate.
In addition, the preset extent L1 and the further preset extent L2
are selected in such a way that when the cap 4 is associated with
the neck 1 the second portions 14 are received in the gaps 12
defined between the abutment elements 11 and therefore each
abutment element 11 is received between two consecutive second
portions 14 so as to overlap a first portion 13 interposed between
them.
The abutment elements 11 comprise a first face 16 arranged to
interact with a corresponding first active surface 17 of the first
portion 13 and a second face 18 arranged to interact with a
corresponding second active surface 19 of the second portion
14.
The first face 16 is substantially parallel to the peripheral edge
28 and is arranged substantially perpendicular to the second face
18.
The first active surface 17 is substantially parallel to a plane
defined by the opening 25 and is arranged substantially
perpendicular to the second active surface 19.
At the moment of the first opening of the container, the cap 4 is
rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 6.
The mutual interaction of the first thread 2 and of the second
thread 3 causes a shift of the cap 4 parallel to a longitudinal
axis X of the neck 1, the cap 4 moving away from the container as
shown by the arrow F1.
In this way, the base body 9 is induced to move away from the
container whereas the ring 8 is kept in contact with the neck 1 by
the abutment arrangement 5.
The first active surface 17 is then interacts with the first face
16 generating a tensile stress that promotes the breakage of the
bridge elements, similarly to what occurs in caps made according to
the state of the art.
In addition, the second active surface 19 is made to interact with
the second face 18 so as to prevent rotation of the ring 8
integrally with the base body 9.
The interaction between the second active surface 19 and the second
face 18 subjects the bridge elements to shearing stress that causes
them to break early.
As a result, the container cannot be tampered with in any way
without the bridge elements being fractured, this fracture
occurring after an extremely limited angle of rotation of the cap 4
in relation to the neck 1.
With reference to FIG. 8, there is shown a version of the opening
indicating element 7 comprising a continuous flap 15 in which a
plurality of holes 21 is made that enables the escape of liquid
that during the bottling operations was retained in a zone of the
opening indicating element 7 near the peripheral edge 28 and
delimited by the flap 15, by a bottom zone of the ring 8 and by a
deformable portion of material with which the cap 4 is made and
which defines a hinge that interconnects the flap 15 to the ring
8.
Owing to the holes 21, undesired accumulations of liquid are
substantially prevented so as to noticeably improve the hygiene of
the container.
The holes 21, furthermore, by increasing the deformability of the
ring 8, make the application of the latter easier, inasmuch as they
facilitate outward expansion of the flap 15 when the ring 8 is
induced to go beyond the abutment arrangement 5.
With reference to FIGS. 3 and 6, there is shown an embodiment of
the cap 4 in which the flap arrangement 10 comprises a plurality of
flaps 20 that are separate from one another rather than a
continuous flap 15.
Each flap 20 comprises a first portion 13 and a second portion 14,
configured according to what is disclosed with reference to FIG.
2.
In FIG. 9, there is shown an embodiment of the neck 1 comprising
further abutment elements 11a provided with a first face 16 that is
substantially parallel to a plane identified by the opening 25,
similar to what is disclosed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.
The further abutment elements 11a furthermore comprises a further
second face 18a that forms an obtuse dihedral angle .alpha. with
the first face 16.
With reference to FIG. 10, there is shown a version of the cap 4
comprising a further continuous flap 15a that is provided with
first portions 13 each of which is provided with a first surface 17
substantially parallel to the peripheral edge 28.
The further flap 15a furthermore comprises second portions 14 each
one of which is provided with a further second active surface 19a
that forms with the first active surface 17 adjacent to it a
further obtuse dihedral angle .beta. having a degree that is
substantially the same as that of the dihedral angle .alpha..
The cap 4 may be provided with holes obtained in the further flap
15a, similarly to what is disclosed with reference to FIG. 8.
The cap 4 may comprise a plurality of flaps, as disclosed with
reference to FIG. 3 rather than a further flap 15a.
As shown in FIG. 11, when the cap 4 is associated with the neck 2
each second portion 14 is received in a gap 12 defined between two
further consecutive abutment elements 11a in such a way that each
first active surface 17 faces a corresponding first face 16 and
each further second active surface 19a faces a corresponding
further second face 18a.
At the moment of the first opening of the container, a rotation of
the cap 4 in relation to the neck 1 induces the further second
active surface 19a to run on the further second face 18a.
As a result the ring 8 moves away from the base body 9, which in
turn moves away from the further abutment elements 11a.
In other words, when the cap 4 is screwed off the neck 1 the ring 8
and the base body 9 mutually move away from opposite parts of the
further abutment elements 11a, thus ensuring early breakage of the
bridge elements.
In FIG. 12, there is shown a further embodiment of the neck 1
comprising still further abutment elements 11b provided with a
first face 16 that is substantially parallel to a plane identified
by the opening 25, similar to what was disclosed with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 8.
The still further abutment elements 11b furthermore comprises a
still further second face 18b that forms with the first face 16 an
acute dihedral angle .alpha.1, in such a way as to define pointed
zones 22 of the still further abutment elements 11b.
With reference to FIG. 13, there is shown a further embodiment of
the cap 4 comprising a still further continuous flap 15b that is
provided with first portions 13, each of which is equipped with a
first surface 17 that is substantially parallel to the peripheral
edge 28.
The still further flap 15b furthermore comprises second portions 14
each one of which is provided with a still further second active
surface 19b that forms with the first active surface 17 adjacent to
it a further acute dihedral angle .beta.1 having a degree that is
substantially the same as that of the dihedral angle .alpha.1.
The first active surface 17 and the still further second active
surface 19b define, at a mutual intersecting zone, a throat 23.
The cap 4 can be equipped with holes obtained in the still further
flap 15b, similarly to what is disclosed with reference to FIG.
8.
The cap 4 may comprise, a plurality of flaps, as disclosed with
reference to FIG. 3 instead of a still further continuous flap
15b.
As shown in FIG. 14, when the cap 4 is associated with the neck 2
each second portion 14 is received in a gap 12 defined between two
still further consecutive abutment elements 11b, in such a way that
each first active surface 17 faces a corresponding first face 16
and each still further second active surface 19b faces a
corresponding still further second face 18b.
At the moment of the first opening of the container, a rotation of
the cap 4 in relation to the neck 1 induces the still further
second active surface 19b to run on the still further second face
18b.
In this way, the ring 8 is brought into contact with the still
further abutment elements 11b, so that each pointed portion 22 is
received in a shapingly coupled manner inside a corresponding
throat 23.
As a result, the ring 8 cannot rotate integrally with the base body
9, which ensures early breakage of the bridge elements.
It should be noted that even in the cap embodiment shown in FIGS.
10 and 11 and in the further cap embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and
14, the bridge elements are subjected to tensile stress, generated
by the interaction of the first active surface 17 with the first
face 16, and to a shearing stress generated by the interaction of
the further second active surface 19a with the further second face
18a, or, respectively, of the still further second active surface
19b with the still further face 18b.
With reference to FIGS. 15 and 16, a seal member 30 is shown
arranged to cooperate with a cap 4, for example of the disclosed
type, to prevent a product to come out from a container to which
the cap 4 is applied.
The seal member 30 comprises a central zone 31--that is
disc-shaped--from which a projection 32 projects that is suitable
for interacting with a mouth 33 of a neck 1 of the container. The
seal member 30 can be made of plastic matter.
The seal member 30 furthermore comprises a substantially flat
annular portion 34 that extends from the projection 32 externally
of the central zone 31.
The annular portion 34 has a section shaped as an annulus that is
provided with a first face 35 arranged to come into contact with
the cap 4 and a second face 37 arranged to come into contact with
the mouth 33 of the neck 1.
The cap 4 is furthermore provided, at the border zone between the
bottom wall 27 and the cylindrical skirt 26, with a shaped edge 43
arranged to interact with the annular portion 34, as will be
disclosed in greater detail below.
When the cap 4 is screwed onto the neck 1, the projection 32 is
received in a shapingly coupled manner inside the mouth 33. At the
same time, the annular portion 34, being tightened between the
shaped edge 43 and the mouth 33, is subjected to a certain
deformation.
This enables an effective seal action to be obtained inasmuch as
the annular portion 34 fits itself in such a way as to
substantially completely occupy an interspace 38 defined between
the internal surface 36 and the mouth 33.
In particular, a part 39 of the annular portion 34 nearer the
projection 32 interacts with an end zone 40 of the mouth 33 that
faces the bottom wall 27, whereas a further part 41 of the annular
portion 34 farther from the projection 32 interacts with a further
end zone 42 of the mouth 33 that faces the side skirt 26.
The mouth 33 is thus internally engaged by the projection 32 and is
externally partially enveloped by the annular portion 34.
The annular portion 34, owing to its deformability, fits itself
according to the particular geometry of the neck 1, thus enabling
an improved seal to be obtained compared with the seals of the
state of the art.
The seal member 30 is distinct from the cap 4 and cooperates with
the latter when the cap is screwed onto the neck 1.
The container can be sealed according to different operating
modes.
According to an operating mode shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, the seal
member 30 is positioned on the neck 1 in such a way that the
projection 32 is received inside the mouth 31. Subsequently, the
cap 4 is positioned on the neck 1 and is screwed onto the latter so
as to enclose the seal member 30 within itself.
According to a further operating mode that is not shown, the seal
member 30 can be inserted into the cap 4 and can be maintained in
the inside of the latter by interference of the annular portion 34
with the thread of the cap. The cap 4 is subsequently screwed onto
the neck 1 in such a way that the projection 32 and the annular
portion 34 surround the mouth 31.
* * * * *